Stow’s family trip led to fresh footy move
JORDAN GERRANS
WHEN Nabako Stow arrived in Cairns earlier this year to visit his sister, footy was the furthest thing from his mind.
The former Labrador flyer and premiership player with the Mackay City Hawks had just left his old job in Mackay, as a commercial coral diver, and travelled north, without any footy gear, for a holiday with his family.
The 24-year-old was drawn to Fretwell Park after playing in junior representative teams with experienced Cutters Jermaine Wardle and Damien Dewis in the past before a text message from South coach John Tootell sealed the deal.
“It was lucky timing how I ended up at South Cairns, really,” Stow said.
“I messaged Damo (Dewis) that I would come have a kick with him if he could find me some footy gear.
“He got me some boots and I went to a Tuesday night training.
“After visiting my sister I just went home to Mackay and did not think anything of it but Toots sent me a text message a few weeks later and we went from there.
“I said ‘ why not?’ and moved up a few weeks later.”
In an up and down season for the Cutters, Stow, who is of Torres Strait Islands heritage, has been their shining light.
The speedy utility has played just the six games for the Cutters this season and has been named in the club’s best players in all but one of the appearances for his new club.
The game of Australian rules football has taken the dasher around the country, turning out for South Cairns, Labrador in the QAFL, Bel-
connen in the NEAFL before that as well as runs with Mackay club Bakers Creek and rivals Mackay City Hawks.
Premiership-winning Brisbane Lion Aaron Shattock, who coached Stow at Labrador, has a big opinion of his former charge.
“Watch this kid, he is electrifying,” Shattock said of Stow following his QAFL debut last season.
As a teen Stow played in premiership sides with the Hawks and was twice named best under-21 player on the ground while in 2014 he ventured to the ACT where he was named best first-year player for Belconnen.
If you are looking on an AFL Cairns team sheet this week and can’t find a Nabako Stow, that is because he was born Steven Stow, with his middle name Nabako, but his father’s name is also Steven, so he decided to be known as Nabako.
“You can’t be living in your father’s shadow your whole life,” Stow said with a laugh when asked about his names.
South Cairns travel to Griffiths Park today to try to end Cairns Saints’ unbeaten start to the 2018 season.
IT WAS LUCKY TIMING HOW I ENDED UP AT SOUTH CAIRNS, REALLY. I SAID ‘WHY NOT?’ AND MOVED UP A FEW WEEKS LATER. SOUTH CAIRNS CUTTER NABAKO STOW